by David Dowd | Dec 14, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Writing
The end of the year is bearing down on us. Amidst all the celebrations, this is a good time to assess how creativity entered your life over the past year. How did a spark of intrigue develop into a more substantial blaze over the course of the year? Seize this moment...
by David Dowd | Dec 8, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Writing
Penguin Random House wants to merge with Simon & Schuster. Such an action would bring together two of the biggest players in the publishing world. Penguin Random House alone owns 300 imprints worldwide and releases 15,000 titles a year. Often, Penguin and Simon...
by David Dowd | Nov 25, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Music, Writing
I lost one of my favorite childhood books. It was called “The Wizard of Maldoone.” For some reason, this book came to mind a couple of weeks ago. It was suddenly very important for me to locate another copy of this book. I had a very clear impression of the book –...
by David Dowd | Nov 9, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Film, Writing
For inspiration, I frequently turn to Patricia Highsmith’s classic on fiction writing, “Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction.” She turned out many psychologically gripping tales, including “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and “Strangers on a Train,” during her heralded...
by David Dowd | Nov 2, 2021 | Artists, Creativity
Last week, I wrote an entry about Amal, the larger-than-life puppet who has made her way from the Turkish border to the United Kingdom over the past several weeks. Little Amal is a Syrian refugee, desperately trying to escape the terror of a long-standing civil war in...
by David Dowd | Oct 26, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Travel, Writing
I have been transfixed by the travels of Amal over the past several weeks. Finally, her legs have stretched over the English Channel. She has finally reached her destination. One might wonder about the legs of a little girl crossing the strait between France and...
by David Dowd | Oct 19, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Writing
It must be the season. I wonder about a certain rhythm to my work. I often find myself deep within the creative process. At this moment, the wave of enthusiasm that I am riding comes crashing down. All of the sentences that I have painstakingly put down on paper...
by David Dowd | Oct 12, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Music, Writing, Yoga
Stephen Cope, in his book “Yoga and the Quest for the True Self” sets forth the notion of “clear seeing.” He writes: “I discovered an intriguing paradox. In the yogic world, an air of unreality permeates discussions about the real. “Seeing” came to mean something...
by David Dowd | Oct 5, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Travel, Writing
In his most recent opinion column in the New York Times, Frank Bruni details a significant experience. It suggests a strategy for encountering the creative muse. His neighbor told him about a new walking trail near his house. Bruni had never seen it before. At first...
by David Dowd | Sep 28, 2021 | Artists, Creativity, Writing
There was a recent insightful article in “The New York Times.” It captured my interest. The subject was the climate and what we could do to address this crisis from an individual’s perspective, given how massive is the problem that we confront. The article was written...
Solitude and the ArtistBut if you sit still for long enough, then something strange begins to emerge from this engagement with the mind. What was once myriad thoughts can be observed to encompass only maybe eight to ten notions that keep cycling through your awareness. read more...
What’s Your Obsession?But we desperately need new models, new and esteemed texts need to be uncovered that take us away from the terrain of war. There should be texts that speak to our moment – where our delicate equilibrium of climate is being upended daily. read more...
At the Top of the Creative MountainYour expectations shape your reality. I have had the opportunity of connecting with every one of you over the past year in one form or another, whether in person or online. I believe in your potential. Spend a few moments with yourself in a quiet space and remind yourself of why you began this project in the first place. Remember how exciting it was when you first captured its essence in your mind’s eye. read more...
Taking Art OutsideOver the years, I have established a relationship with this patch of land. I have traversed the terrain well enough to easily recall each of its inclines and slopes. I use this landscape in my meditation most every morning. read more...
Books for the Dog Days of SummerI have put together a short list of books that have been in my orbit over the past couple of months. These books have spoken to me – and you could do far worse than to pick up one of these books to read while the dog days of summer drag along, when disappearing into a different space altogether is essential to preserving your sanity. read more...
The Crow’s FeatherSo, I decided to give into their calls this morning, to reckon with what they were trying to tell me. Why were they hovering about my land – and such a specific patch of it? read more...
Intersection of Art and YogaHave the courage to stay in the room, no matter how hot it might feel. That discomfort means that you are getting at something meaningful and powerful. Let the sweat gather on your brow. read more...
The Conversation Between Two ArtistsYou may have lost the thread of this conversation over the past few months. It is time to refresh the acquaintance. You should dive a little more deeply into the dialogue, as you now have amassed considerable hours devoted to your work. How does the creative path that you have been walking down respond to aspects of the other artist’s work? read more...
Artistic ZenithJust take a moment to relax into the reality that your artistic project is seeing the light of day. You have worked hard. All the various strands of thought will coalesce, for you have already established a track record for yourself. Do something today to congratulate yourself. read more...
The Subconscious KnocksThe subconscious will attempt to claim a place at the table of our creation, clamoring for our attention. While its presence may be insightful, it can also be challenging to integrate those subconscious stirrings into our work. read more...